Lies (a Gone novel) by Michael Grant

Michael Grant has done it again.  He's continued this gripping story with the same interesting characters, adding in more elements of danger (and a few new characters) to keep the pace quick and the story compelling.  This book continues the story started in Gone, and Hunger, where all of a sudden, everyone over the age of fifteen vanishes from the area of Perdido Beach.  Left to fend for themselves, the kids who are left need to figure out what to do.  As if being left completely on their own wasn't scary enough, some of the kids have developed powers (some of them strange, and some just plain dangerous).  When this book begins, it has been seven months since all the adults disappeared... and things aren't getting any better.  Lines are starting to be drawn between "mutants" and the "Human Crew," food and water are becoming dangerously low, and desperation is setting in.

If you haven't read the other two books, this one probably won't make any sense.  However, if you have read the first two, rest assured that the characters you've gotten to know are still here, and the tension in the story is still high.  Michael Grant has done a great job of keeping this storyline completely taut -- there's seamless transition from one book to the next, and the quick pace never lets up.  Grant lets us get to know some of the characters in more depth here, including Sam and Astrid, but we also get to know a few other, as well (like Orsay, whose power seems to have increased since we first met her).  The situation is also kept pretty true: the effects of food deprivation are starting to show, and the realities of what might be coming next for these kids become clearer and clearer.  Imagine a world where there's no doctors, and only one Healer (who may or may not be enough to help).  Food's running low, there's no electricity, and fresh water's becoming scarce. And, oh yeah, you're maybe only fifteen (not necessarily a lot of life skills at this point in your life).  And what do you do if you're only 5 years old?

I enjoyed this book just as much as the first two.  The situation is horrific, but I'm completely fascinated -- I suppose it's like an accident you just can't help but watch unfold.  Grant also brings up some interesting things for the reader to think about, long after the book's finished.  My only complaint is that I now have to wait for the next book to come out.  I had read the first one a while back, re-read it and got the second one, and then got this third book right away when it came into the library.  Now, I just have to wait......  which I know is a sign of a great book.  :)

And where did I get this book?  Library!            **and sorry, no picture today -- computer I'm using isn't cooperating........